R O T A R Y G R A M

High Noon Rotary Club

July 8, 2004

The HNRC joined 350 other people for the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Mercy Regional Medical Center.

Our own Ellen Roberts, Chairperson of the Mercy Medical Center Board of Directors, was the Mistress of Ceremony for the grand event. She presided with professionalism, tact, humor and grace.

The Durango Herald reported the event on its front page on Friday. It noted that Mr. Blaine Petersen from the parent Catholic Health Initiatives organization back East commented that this was the largest groundbreaking ceremony he had ever attended.

Here’s the Rest of the Story:

He commented that back at Corporate Headquarters, overseeing hundreds of hospitals coast to coast, they look foremost for local support for these projects. He said he called Ellen weekly to ask about local support, and she always said “Of course!” Commenting on the huge turnout today, he added that now he knows “Ellen was speaking the truth!!”

Other tidbits from that wonderful event:

• Chairman Howard Richards, Sr. from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Tribal Council, on why they donated part of the land for the new hospital, was especially eloquent and impassioned.

• According to Dave Layton, of Layton Construction who are the principal contractors, they specialize in building medical facilities. They recently opened a $150 million cancer care facility in Salt Lake City. Layton Construction currently has 15 projects underway, and he was on his way to another groundbreaking ceremony in Phoenix the next day. This is one reason our new hospital will have the very newest in hospital design, a “Healing Garden”.

• Gemma Kavanagh, leading the assembly in “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”, was as always, wonderful.

• Did you know our own Scott Mathis is a Member of the Mercy Health Foundation?

• The backhoe with its bucket filled with iced water bottles was a very nice touch!

• As were the Ceremonial Blessings from the many religious and ethnic communities that are the fabric of our community.

• Finally, we must report on our Mayor Joe Colgan. Many of you know he enjoys his very jaunty classic sport convertible. I was relieve to see him at Farmington Hill since I really didn’t know where to turn left off Hwy 160. Surely our mayor knows where the hospital site and ceremonies will be held! As he made his left turn, a column of at least a dozen cars followed him. The parade of vehicles made a very large circle as we returned to Hwy 160, to continue the search for the proper left turn. Joe, Joe Joe!

The new Mercy Regional Center plans to open Spring 2006.

Next Week:

Kirk Dignum, Ph.D., President of the Board of Directors of Mercy Medical Center.

7/22: Brad Bartel, Ph.D., President of Fort Lewis College.

Yours in Rotary,

Spencer, your Scribe

PS: Your correspondent always welcomes your comments: mailto:pearse2827@sisna.com